Generation of electronic media content collections

ABSTRACT

Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve the functionality of electronic messaging software and systems by automatically analyzing media content associated with a user and generating collections of such content (e.g., “stories”) based on varying criteria.

CLAIM OF PRIORITY

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.15/905,486, filed on Feb. 26, 2018, which claims the benefit of priorityto U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 62/599,508 filed on Dec. 15,2017, the disclosures of each of which are hereby incorporated byreference in their entireties.

BACKGROUND

The popularity of electronic messaging, particularly instant messaging,continues to grow. Users increasingly share electronic media contentitems such as electronic images, audio, and video with each other. Usersalso increasingly utilize their mobile devices to communicate with eachother using chat and message programs. Over time, a user may accumulatea large amount of media content associated with various events and timeperiods. Embodiments of the present disclosure address the generation ofcollections of such content, as well as other issues.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

In the drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, like numeralsmay describe similar components in different views. Like numerals havingdifferent letter suffixes may represent different instances of similarcomponents. Some embodiments are illustrated by way of example, and notlimitation, in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example messaging system forexchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over a network.

FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating further details regarding amessaging system, according to exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram illustrating data which may be stored inthe database of the messaging server system, according to variousexemplary embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a flow diagram of an exemplary process according to variousaspects of the disclosure.

FIGS. 5A-5J are diagrams and screenshots illustrating various aspects ofthe present disclosure.

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating a representative softwarearchitecture, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components of a machine,according to some exemplary embodiments, able to read instructions froma machine-readable medium (e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) andperform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The description that follows includes systems, methods, techniques,instruction sequences, and computing machine program products thatembody illustrative embodiments of the disclosure. In the followingdescription, for the purposes of explanation, numerous specific detailsare set forth in order to provide an understanding of variousembodiments of the inventive subject matter. It will be evident,however, to those skilled in the art, that embodiments of the inventivesubject matter may be practiced without these specific details. Ingeneral, well-known instruction instances, protocols, structures, andtechniques are not necessarily shown in detail.

Among other things, embodiments of the present disclosure improve thefunctionality of electronic messaging software and systems byautomatically analyzing media content associated with a user andgenerating collections of such content (e.g., “stories”) based onvarying criteria.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing an example of a messaging system 100for exchanging data (e.g., messages and associated content) over anetwork. The messaging system 100 includes multiple client devices 102,each of which hosts a number of applications including a messagingclient application 104. Each messaging client application 104 iscommunicatively coupled to other instances of the messaging clientapplication 104 and a messaging server system 108 via a network 106(e.g., the Internet). As used herein, the term “client device” may referto any machine that interfaces to a communications network (such asnetwork 106) to obtain resources from one or more server systems orother client devices. A client device may be, but is not limited to, amobile phone, desktop computer, laptop, portable digital assistants(PDAs), smart phones, tablets, ultra books, netbooks, laptops,multi-processor systems, microprocessor-based or programmable consumerelectronics, game consoles, set-top boxes, or any other communicationdevice that a user may use to access a network.

In the example shown in FIG. 1, each messaging client application 104 isable to communicate and exchange data with another messaging clientapplication 104 and with the messaging server system 108 via the network106. The data exchanged between messaging client applications 104, andbetween a messaging client application 104 and the messaging serversystem 108, includes functions (e.g., commands to invoke functions) aswell as payload data (e.g., text, audio, video or other multimediadata).

The network 106 may include, or operate in conjunction with, an ad hocnetwork, an intranet, an extranet, a virtual private network (VPN), alocal area network (LAN), a wireless LAN (WLAN), a wide area network(WAN), a wireless WAN (WWAN), a metropolitan area network (MAN), theInternet, a portion of the Internet, a portion of the Public SwitchedTelephone Network (PSTN), a plain old telephone service (POTS) network,a cellular telephone network, a wireless network, a Wi-Fi® network,another type of network, or a combination of two or more such networks.For example, a network or a portion of a network may include a wirelessor cellular network and the coupling may be a Code Division MultipleAccess (CDMA) connection, a Global System for Mobile communications(GSM) connection, or other type of cellular or wireless coupling. Inthis example, the coupling may implement any of a variety of types ofdata transfer technology, such as Single Carrier Radio TransmissionTechnology (1×RTT), Evolution-Data Optimized (EVDO) technology, GeneralPacket Radio Service (GPRS) technology, Enhanced Data rates for GSMEvolution (EDGE) technology, third Generation Partnership Project (3GPP)including 3G, fourth generation wireless (4G) networks, Universal MobileTelecommunications System (UMTS), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA),Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX), Long TermEvolution (LTE) standard, others defined by various standard settingorganizations, other long range protocols, or other data transfertechnology.

The messaging server system 108 provides server-side functionality viathe network 106 to a particular messaging client application 104. Whilecertain functions of the messaging system 100 are described herein asbeing performed by either a messaging client application 104 or by themessaging server system 108, it will be appreciated that the location ofcertain functionality either within the messaging client application 104or the messaging server system 108 is a design choice. For example, itmay be technically preferable to initially deploy certain technology andfunctionality within the messaging server system 108, but to latermigrate this technology and functionality to the messaging clientapplication 104 where a client device 102 has a sufficient processingcapacity.

The messaging server system 108 supports various services and operationsthat are provided to the messaging client application 104. Suchoperations include transmitting data to, receiving data from, andprocessing data generated by the messaging client application 104. Thisdata may include, message content, client device information,geolocation information, media annotation and overlays, message contentpersistence conditions, social network information, and live eventinformation, as examples. Data exchanges within the messaging system 100are invoked and controlled through functions available via userinterfaces (UIs) of the messaging client application 104.

Turning now specifically to the messaging server system 108, anApplication Program Interface (API) server 110 is coupled to, andprovides a programmatic interface to, an application server 112. Theapplication server 112 is communicatively coupled to a database server118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which is stored dataassociated with messages processed by the application server 112.

Dealing specifically with the Application Program Interface (API) server110, this server receives and transmits message data (e.g., commands andmessage payloads) between the client device 102 and the applicationserver 112. Specifically, the Application Program Interface (API) server110 provides a set of interfaces (e.g., routines and protocols) that canbe called or queried by the messaging client application 104 in order toinvoke functionality of the application server 112. The ApplicationProgram Interface (API) server 110 exposes various functions supportedby the application server 112, including account registration, loginfunctionality, the sending of messages, via the application server 112,from a particular messaging client application 104 to another messagingclient application 104, the sending of electronic media files (e.g.,electronic images or video) from a messaging client application 104 tothe messaging server application 114, and for possible access by anothermessaging client application 104, the setting of a collection of mediadata (e.g., story), the retrieval of a list of friends of a user of aclient device 102, the retrieval of such collections, the retrieval ofmessages and content, the adding and deletion of friends to a socialgraph, the location of friends within a social graph, opening andapplication event (e.g., relating to the messaging client application104).

The application server 112 hosts a number of applications andsubsystems, including a messaging server application 114, an imageprocessing system 116 and a social network system 122. The messagingserver application 114 implements a number of message processingtechnologies and functions, particularly related to the aggregation andother processing of content (e.g., textual and multimedia contentincluding images and video clips) included in messages received frommultiple instances of the messaging client application 104. As will bedescribed in further detail, the text and media content from multiplesources may be aggregated into collections of content (e.g., calledstories or galleries). These collections are then made available, by themessaging server application 114, to the messaging client application104. Other processor and memory intensive processing of data may also beperformed server-side by the messaging server application 114, in viewof the hardware requirements for such processing.

The application server 112 also includes an image processing system 116that is dedicated to performing various image processing operations,typically with respect to electronic images or video received within thepayload of a message at the messaging server application 114.

The social network system 122 supports various social networkingfunctions services, and makes these functions and services available tothe messaging server application 114. To this end, the social networksystem 122 maintains and accesses an entity graph 304 within thedatabase 120. Examples of functions and services supported by the socialnetwork system 122 include the identification of other users of themessaging system 100 with which a particular user has relationships oris “following”, and also the identification of other entities andinterests of a particular user.

The application server 112 is communicatively coupled to a databaseserver 118, which facilitates access to a database 120 in which isstored data associated with messages processed by the messaging serverapplication 114.

Some embodiments may include one or more wearable devices, such as apendant with an integrated camera that is integrated with, incommunication with, or coupled to, a client device 102. Any desiredwearable device may be used in conjunction with the embodiments of thepresent disclosure, such as a watch, eyeglasses, goggles, a headset, awristband, earbuds, clothing (such as a hat or jacket with integratedelectronics), a clip-on electronic device, or any other wearabledevices.

FIG. 2 is block diagram illustrating further details regarding themessaging system 100, according to exemplary embodiments. Specifically,the messaging system 100 is shown to comprise the messaging clientapplication 104 and the application server 112, which in turn embody anumber of some subsystems, namely an ephemeral timer system 202, acollection management system 204 and an annotation system 206.

The ephemeral timer system 202 is responsible for enforcing thetemporary access to content permitted by the messaging clientapplication 104 and the messaging server application 114. To this end,the ephemeral timer system 202 incorporates a number of timers that,based on duration and display parameters associated with a message, orcollection of messages (e.g., a SNAPCHAT® story), selectively displayand enable access to messages and associated content via the messagingclient application 104.

The collection management system 204 is responsible for managingcollections of media (e.g., collections of text, image, video and audiodata). In some examples, a collection of content (e.g., messages,including images, video, text, and audio) may be organized into an“event gallery” or an “event story.” Such a collection may be madeavailable for a specified time period, such as the duration of an eventto which the content relates. For example, content relating to a musicconcert may be made available as a “story” for the duration of thatmusic concert. The collection management system 204 may also beresponsible for publishing an icon that provides notification of theexistence of a particular collection to the user interface of themessaging client application 104.

The collection management system 204 furthermore includes a curationinterface 208 that allows a collection manager to manage and curate aparticular collection of content. For example, the curation interface208 enables an event organizer to curate a collection of contentrelating to a specific event (e.g., delete inappropriate content orredundant messages). Additionally, the collection management system 204employs machine vision (or image recognition technology) and contentrules to automatically curate a content collection. In certainembodiments, compensation may be paid to a user for inclusion of usergenerated content into a collection. In such cases, the curationinterface 208 operates to automatically make payments to such users forthe use of their content.

The annotation system 206 provides various functions that enable a userto annotate or otherwise modify or edit media content associated with amessage. For example, the annotation system 206 provides functionsrelated to the generation and publishing of media overlays for messagesprocessed by the messaging system 100. The annotation system 206operatively supplies a media overlay (e.g., a SNAPCHAT® filter) to themessaging client application 104 based on a geolocation of the clientdevice 102. In another example, the annotation system 206 operativelysupplies a media overlay to the messaging client application 104 basedon other information, such as, social network information of the user ofthe client device 102. A media overlay may include audio and visualcontent and visual effects. Examples of audio and visual content includepictures, texts, logos, animations, and sound effects. An example of avisual effect includes color overlaying. The audio and visual content orthe visual effects can be applied to a media content item (e.g., animage or video) at the client device 102. For example, the media overlayincluding text that can be overlaid on top of a photograph/electronicimage generated by the client device 102. In another example, the mediaoverlay includes an identification of a location overlay (e.g., Venicebeach), a name of a live event, or a name of a merchant overlay (e.g.,Beach Coffee House). In another example, the annotation system 206 usesthe geolocation of the client device 102 to identify a media overlaythat includes the name of a merchant at the geolocation of the clientdevice 102. The media overlay may include other indicia associated withthe merchant. The media overlays may be stored in the database 120 andaccessed through the database server 118.

In some exemplary embodiments, as discussed in more detail below,embodiments of the present disclosure may generate, display, distribute,and apply media overlays to media content items. For example,embodiments may utilize media content items generated by a client device102 (e.g., an image or video captured using a digital camera coupled tothe client device 102) to generate media overlays that can be applied toother media content items.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram 300 illustrating data 300 that is storedin the database 120 of the messaging server system 108, according tocertain exemplary embodiments. While the content of the database 120 isshown to comprise a number of tables, the data could be stored in othertypes of data structures (e.g., as an object-oriented database).

The database 120 includes message data stored within a message table314. The entity table 302 stores entity data, including an entity graph304. Entities for which records are maintained within the entity table302 may include individuals, corporate entities, organizations, objects,places, events etc. Regardless of type, any entity regarding which themessaging server system 108 stores data may be a recognized entity. Eachentity is provided with a unique identifier, as well as an entity typeidentifier (not shown).

The entity graph 304 furthermore stores information regardingrelationships and associations between entities. Such relationships maybe social, professional (e.g., work at a common corporation ororganization) interested-based or activity-based, merely for example.

The database 120 also stores annotation data, in the example form offilters, in an annotation table 312. Filters for which data is storedwithin the annotation table 312 are associated with and applied tovideos (for which data is stored in a video table 310) or images (forwhich data is stored in an image table 308). Filters, in one example,are overlays that are displayed as overlaid on an image or video duringpresentation to a recipient user. Filters may be of varies types,including a user-selected filters from a gallery of filters presented toa sending user by the messaging client application 104 when the sendinguser is composing a message.

Other types of filters include geolocation filters (also known asGeofilters) which may be presented to a sending user based on geographiclocation. For example, geolocation filters specific to a neighborhood orspecial location may be presented within a user interface by themessaging client application 104, based on geolocation informationdetermined by a GPS unit of the client device 102. Another type offilter is a data filter, which may be selectively presented to a sendinguser by the messaging client application 104, based on other inputs orinformation gathered by the client device 102 during the messagecreation process. Example of data filters include current temperature ata specific location, a current speed at which a sending user istraveling, battery life for a client device 102 or the current time.Other annotation data that may be stored within the image table 308 isso-called “Lens” data. A “Lens” may be a real-time special effect andsound that may be added to an image or a video.

As mentioned above, the video table 310 stores video data which, in oneembodiment, is associated with messages for which records are maintainedwithin the message table 314. Similarly, the image table 308 storesimage data associated with messages for which message data is stored inthe entity table 302. The entity table 302 may associate variousannotations from the annotation table 312 with various images and videosstored in the image table 308 and the video table 310.

A story table 306 stores data regarding collections of messages andassociated image, video or audio data, which are compiled into acollection (e.g., a SNAPCHAT® story or a gallery). The creation of aparticular collection may be initiated by a particular user (e.g., eachuser for which a record is maintained in the entity table 302). A usermay create a “personal story” in the form of a collection of contentthat has been created and sent/broadcast by that user. To this end, theuser interface of the messaging client application 104 may include anicon that is user selectable to enable a sending user to add specificcontent to his or her personal story.

A collection may also constitute a “live story,” which is a collectionof content from multiple users that is created manually, automaticallyor using a combination of manual and automatic techniques. For example,a “live story” may constitute a curated stream of user-submitted contentfrom varies locations and events. Users, whose client devices havelocation services enabled and are at a common location event at aparticular time may, for example, be presented with an option, via auser interface of the messaging client application 104, to contributecontent to a particular live story. The live story may be identified tothe user by the messaging client application 104, based on his or herlocation. The end result is a “live story” told from a communityperspective.

A further type of content collection is known as a “location story,”which enables a user whose client device 102 is located within aspecific geographic location (e.g., on a college or university campus)to contribute to a particular collection. In some embodiments, acontribution to a location story may require a second degree ofauthentication to verify that the end user belongs to a specificorganization or other entity (e.g., is a student on the universitycampus).

Embodiments of the present disclosure may generate and presentcustomized images for use within electronic messages/communications suchas short message service (SMS) or multimedia message service (MMS) textsand emails. The customized images may also be utilized in conjunctionwith the SNAPCHAT stories, SNAPCHAT filters, and ephemeral messagingfunctionality discussed herein. Embodiments of the present disclosuremay transmit and receive electronic communications containing mediacontent items, media overlays, and/or other content (or links to suchcontent as described below) using any form of electronic communication,such as SMS texts, MMS texts, emails, and other communications.

FIG. 4 depicts an exemplary process according to various aspects of thepresent disclosure. In this example, method 400 includes receiving andstoring (e.g., in a database in communication with the system) a mediacontent item from the computing device of a user (405), selecting (e.g.,from a database in communication with the system) a narrative groupcriterion (410), selecting a media content item associated with thenarrative group criterion and the user (415), generating a media contentcollection that includes the selected media content item (420),displaying (425) the media content collection (e.g., on the displayscreen of the user's computing device), receiving instructions from theuser (430), and distributing the media content collection (435). Thesteps of method 400 may be performed in whole or in part, may beperformed in conjunction each other as well as with some or all of thesteps in other methods, and may be performed by any number of differentsystems, such as the systems described in FIGS. 1 and 7.

Embodiments of the present disclosure may receive a variety of differentforms of content (405) from a variety of sources. For example, thesystem (e.g., messaging server system 108 in FIG. 1) may receive (405)an electronic communication transmitted from a client computing deviceof a user (e.g., client device 102 in FIG. 1) over a network such as theInternet (e.g., network 106 in FIG. 1) containing one more media contentitems that include content such as an image, text, audio, and/or video.Embodiments of the present disclosure may transmit and receiveelectronic communications containing media content items, mediaoverlays, or other content any form of electronic communication, such asSMS texts, MMS texts, emails, and other communications. Media contentitems included in such communications may be provided as attachments,displayed inline in the message, within media overlays, or conveyed inany other suitable manner.

Additionally or alternatively, the system may retrieve media contentposted to online social networks by the user. The system may alsoreceive or collect media content items associated with a user from mediacontent stored locally on the user's mobile device. For example, a usermay generate electronic images, video, audio, text files, etc. and storesuch content in the memory of the user's device. In some embodiments,the system may, with the user's authorization, collect such content andselect media content for the media content collections. In this manner,the system can generate media content collections using content the usermay never have shared with anyone else, and may have even forgottenabout.

The system selects (410) one or more narrative group criteria forgenerating the media content collection. FIG. 5A illustrates an exampleof an embodiment that generates a collection of media content (which maybe referred to herein as “stories,” as noted above) over a predeterminedtime period. In this example, the system generates a “Year End Story”for the calendar year.

In FIG. 5A, the identified narrative group criteria define the narrativegroups are the building blocks to the Year End Story. They can beexcluded from a user's Year End Story if they do not have enough snapsin their memories to meet a minimum required number for that NarrativeGroup. Each Narrative group may have its own set of criteria andrequirements. Each narrative group may also have any number ofsub-narratives (also defined by their respective sets of criteria andrequirements) that may be placed into the overall narrative.

In the example shown in FIG. 5A and subsequent illustrations, the systemoperates with media content in the form of “Snaps” generated by the“Snapchat” application from Snap, Inc. However, embodiments of thepresent disclosure may operate in conjunction with media contentgenerated using any desired application and stored in any format. In theexample in FIG. 5A, a narrative group may be prefaced with a singleTitle Snap, particularly where there are no sub-narratives.

In some embodiments, if a narrative group instead has sub-narratives,each sub-narrative will be prefaced with a Title snap. These Title Snapsmay be generated by the system to introduce a series of one or more usersnaps that follow each Title Snap. In this example, the narrative groupsare listed in sequential order as they would exist in the overallnarrative. A Title Snap may include, for example, animated video withtext, and a static overlay of the user's bitmoji (if available). In thiscontext, a “bitmoji” refers to an avatar associated with the user.

The process for generating the Year End Story is summarized at the leftside of FIG. 5A, taken in conjunction with the process described in FIG.4. In this example, for each narrative group, the system filters thesubset of snaps that fit a set of criteria selected (410) for thenarrative group. Narrative group criteria examples are described in moredetail below.

The system may select a plurality of media content items associated withthe user and a each narrative group criterion, and select a plurality ofmedia content items associated with the first narrative group criterionby organizing each media content item into a plurality of categoriesbased on a time the media content item was generated and/or an eventassociated with the media content item. In FIG. 5A, for example, foreach valid subset of Snaps in each narrative group, the system bucketsthe Snaps by month, though other time periods (e.g., a week, a day,etc.) could also be used. As shown in FIG. 5E, media content items arecategorized based on a day (e.g., “Throwback Thursday”), a month(“September Replay”), and a daily time frame from a period in the past(“One Year Ago Today”). Similarly, as noted above, FIG. 5E depicts mediacontent is categorized based on an event, namely a user's “Trip to SanDiego Zoo.”

The system may, as shown in FIG. 5A, selects a plurality of narrativegroup criteria for a respective plurality of narrative groups. Thesystem may identify any number of different media content itemsassociated with the user and each narrative group criterion in theplurality of narrative group criteria. In some cases, the same mediacontent item may be identified for multiple narrative groups. In othercases, the system may limit media content items to being associated witha predetermined number (e.g., one) narrative group. The system mayselect at least a portion of the identified media content itemsidentified across the plurality of narrative group criteria forinclusion in the generated media content collection, such as the YearEnd Story in FIG. 5A.

In some embodiments, selecting (415) the plurality of media contentitems associated with a narrative group criterion includes ranking eachmedia content item within each category, and selecting the media contentitems for the media content collection based on the ranking. Forexample, in FIG. 5A, within each time-based category, the system ranksthe Snaps by engagement score. The engagement score may be determinedbased on a variety of different factors. For example, the engagementscore may be determined based on one or more of: a number of times therespective media content item is viewed, a number of times therespective media content item is distributed, a number of commentsassociated with the respective media content item, a keyword in therespective media content item, an image in the respective media contentitem, video in the respective media content item, and audio in therespective media content item.

The system may select the media content items (415) for the mediacontent collection by selecting no more than a predetermined number ofmedia content items from each category. For example, in FIG. 5A thesystem may draw a predetermined number of the top Snaps by rank, but notdrawing from the same bucket/category twice to achieve time diversity.

In some embodiments, selecting media content items identified across theplurality of narrative group criteria for inclusion in the generatedmedia content collection further includes selecting media content itemsassociated with narrative group criteria that meet a set of minimumcriteria. In FIG. 5A, for example, for each narrative group, the systemfilters narrative groups to a subset of narratives that meet a minimumcriteria (e.g., minimum number of Snaps/media content items associatedwith the narrative group, and/or a minimum total engagement score forthe narrative group. A narrative group defined by a set of narrativegroup criteria, for example, may be associated with ten media contentitems each having varying engagement scores (determined as describedabove). In some embodiments, the total engagement score for the mediacontent associated with the narrative group criteria may be the sum ofthe engagement scores for all media content items, the average of thescores, a weighted score based on the characteristics of the individualmedia content items (with some content items affecting the totalengagement score more than others), or based on other calculations.

In some embodiments, selecting media content items identified across theplurality of narrative group criteria for inclusion in the generatedmedia content collection includes selecting media content itemsassociated with at least a portion of the plurality of narrative groupcriteria based on a respective ranking for each narrative groupcriterion. The ranking of each respective narrative group criterion maybe based on a pre-seeded value for the respective narrative groupcriterion, and/or a total engagement score for the respective narrativegroup criterion. The system may select media content items associatedwith a subset of the plurality of narrative group criteria that have aranking above a predetermined threshold.

In FIG. 5A, for example, the system ranks each narrative group using ascoring calculation (e.g., pre-seeded narrative values*total narrativeengagement score), and selects a predetermined number of top narrativesbased on rank to string together to form a narrative. The Year End Storymay thus follow a pre-defined narrative with a set of Narrative Groupsthat satisfy a minimum threshold of satisfying Snaps to be included inthe overall Narrative. Access to, and display of, media contentcollection generated by embodiments of the present disclosure (such asthe Year End Story generated in FIG. 5A) may be ephemerally limited byembodiments of the present disclosure. In some embodiments, for example,the system allows the media content collection to be displayed on thedisplay screen of a user's computing device and/or the computing devicesof other users to whom the media content collection isshared/distributed, for a predetermined period of time. Additionally oralternatively, the system may allow the media content collection to bedisplayed a predetermined number of times. In the example shown in FIG.5A, for instance, the Year End Story may be accessed by the user andothers the user shares/distributes the Year End Story to from December31 to January 14. Additionally, once a user has viewed the Year EndStory in full, it will be removed from access (e.g. disappear from their“memories” section of their messaging application) 48 hours afterthey've viewed it.

The system may also alter the classification of a media contentcollection based on time or other events. For example, arecently-created media content collection such as the Year End Story maybe given a prioritized “featured” status for a predetermined timeperiod, until the generating user views the collection, until apredetermined number of other users have viewed the collection, and/orbased on other criteria. In a particular example, in response to a usersaving their Year End Story, the system removes the collection as a“featured story” from the user's gallery of stories.

FIGS. 5B-5D illustrate an example of a “Year End Story” media contentcollection, as well as some of the narrative group criteria that may beutilized by embodiments of the present disclosure to select (415) mediacontent items to generate (420) a media content collection. In theseexamples, the media content collection includes a series of Title cards(darker screens) that introduce a narrative group category followed by auser's media content items (“Snaps” in these examples) associated withthe narrative group's criteria and are selected by the system togenerate (420) the media content collection using the user's mediacontent. For the sake of illustration, these examples show only a singlesample media content item that describes (in text) the narrative groupcriteria that a media content item would have for each narrative group,though an actual media content item would typically contain an image,audio, video, or other actual content.

In FIG. 5B, for example, the collection begins (proceeding left toright) with a title card introducing the entire media collection: “Imade it though 2017 . . . ” followed by a title card stating “I had afew early mornings” preceding one or more media content items satisfyingthe narrative group criteria of “being taken between 4 AM and 6 AM.” Inoperation, the system may identify this information (and other data forcriteria described below) from the timestamp on the media content itemfile, as well as from metadata stored with (or in association with) themedia content item file. FIG. 5B proceeds by next displaying the “Iworked hard” title card followed by media content associated havingkeywords related to “working,” and a title card “I played even harder”followed by media content where the system performs an objectrecognition analysis on image content within media content items toidentify media content associated with “clubbing or partying.”Embodiments of the present disclosure may use any combination of textrecognition, image recognition, audio analysis, and/or otheridentification techniques to identify and select media content items forassociation with various narrative group criteria.

In FIG. 5C, the content collection continues with a title card stating“Sometimes life felt slow” followed by media content to which aparticular filter was applied, namely a “slowmotion effect,” in thiscase. Similarly, the collection includes a title card referencing“moving backwards” followed by media content to which a “reverse motion”effect filter was applied. FIG. 5C next includes a title cardreferencing “selfies,” associated with media content generated takenusing a front-facing camera of the user's mobile computing device alongwith an image of the user's face (e.g., determined using imagerecognition). FIG. 5C next includes a title card referencing “hot” days,with the continuation of the collection in FIG. 5D including mediacontent captured while the temperature (e.g., measured by a temperaturesensor coupled to the user's mobile computing device) exceeded 80degrees, and/or the user applied a temperature-related filter.

FIG. 5D continues with media content taken on the user's birth date,media content having at least a predetermined amount of editing by theuser (“brush strokes” and/or applied “stickers,” in this example), mediacontent containing a particular keyword (i.e., “lit” in this case), andfinally media content containing an image of a sunset as determined viaimage recognition.

As shown above, the system may operate in conjunction with a variety ofnarrative group criteria. In other examples, the system may selectnarrative group criteria that selects content based on “late nights”(similar to the “early mornings” example above) based on the timestampof the media content, and biasing selection of media content towardspicking content generated later in the day. For example, an imagecaptured at 3 AM may be selected over an image captured at 1 AM.Likewise, the system may prioritize media content based on filters andother types of overlays (e.g., “sticker” images) applied to the content.The system may also select or prioritize selection of media contentbased on whether a front-facing or rear-facing camera was used tocapture an image (e.g., to help select images of the user as opposed toimages that do not contain the user). The system may also analyze thecontent of a media content in making a selection, such as analyzingtext, video, audio, images (e.g., emoji) and other characteristics ofthe content. For example, in looking for “upbeat” or “happy” images, thesystem may search for media content containing “smiling” emojis orkeywords indicating the user is happy.

The system may likewise analyze the settings of a user's mobilecomputing device in conjunction with media content created by the deviceto select media content. For example, the system may introduce a titlecard stating: “I took a closer look” and follow it with media contentcaptured by a camera zoomed in over 50% of the zoom threshold. Thesystem may also utilize information from sensors coupled to the user'scomputing device when the media content was generated, such astemperature sensors (described above), geolocation data (e.g.,determining where an image was captured, such as an airport or hotel toindicate traveling/vacationing), velocity/altitude (e.g., indicatingtravel, flying, etc.), and data from other sensors, such as describedbelow with reference to FIG. 7.

The system may use image analysis (and other analysis techniques) toselect media content items with a bias toward (or against): groups ofpeople in an image, and/or faces exhibiting smiles/happy emotion. Thesystem may also select media content based on the characteristics ofmedia overlays applied to the content, such as custom stickers made by auser as compared to “standard” stickers provided by the system orbitmoji stickers (showing an avatar of the user). For example, thesystem may opt to select images having custom stickers or bitmoji ashaving a more “personal” tie to the user.

FIG. 5E illustrates exemplary screenshots of four media collections. Inthis example, each media collection (“story”) is presented in a“memories” gallery for a user to view. The featured story tile (the maintile visible beneath the title) may include auto-playing videos andphotos (e.g., that play media content from the story that transitionfrom one to the next with autoplaying cross-fade animation). Thisauto-playing video may loop back to the beginning when it gets to theend. A user may select (e.g., tap on the touchscreen of the user'smobile computing device) a Featured Story Tile to bring it full screen.The user may then skip through the story to view the media content itemstherein, or dismiss the story from the menu.

FIG. 5F illustrates a screenshot showing a menu of user options forinteracting with a media content collection. In this example, the usermay opt to hide the story from the menu, export the story (e.g., tolocal storage on the user's mobile device, edit the story, save thestory, or send the story to another user.

FIG. 5G illustrates another user menu. In this example, the menu may bedisplayed to the user after the user opens the media content collection(“story”) for the first time and finishes watching it or exits. In thiscase, the Featured Story Tile will animate into the post-view stateshown in FIG. 5G, where the user is displayed options to: Edit Story;Save to Stories; and Send Story. In this example, If a user saves theFeatured Story, it will save to the user's “My Stories” section. In someembodiments, the system may stop displaying Featured Stories in responseto a variety of events, such as: the story has been viewed in full bythe user, the story has been saved or sent by the user, the user hidesthe story, the Story has been featured for a predetermined amount oftime (e.g., 24 hours) and the featured tile has been seen at least onceby the user but not been interacted with, or the system determines thestory is no longer relevant. For example, the system may determine thata “1 year ago story” cannot be kept the following day, because it willno longer be 1 year ago.

The system may visually tag media content collections to help notify auser of its existence or remind the user to view the collection. In FIG.5H, for example, the system “badges” the “Memories” icon (in the bottommiddle) to indicate that the user has a featured story that the user hasnot yet viewed. In this example, if the user selects the Memories iconwhile it is badged, the user is brought to the Memories page with theFeatured Story. The badging may be removed by the system in response tothe user selecting the Memories icon and/or viewing the featured story.

The system may allow the user to edit a media content collection,including adding or removing media content items from the collection,editing individual media content items, and adding, removing, oraltering title cards. FIG. 5I illustrates an example of a series ofscreenshots showing the editing of a media content collection by a user.In this example, the user selects the “Edit Story” option after viewingthe story. The user then removes the second Snap in the story by tappingon the “x” icon, prompting a confirmation pop-up (shown in the middlescreenshot). The user selects the “Remove Snap” button to remove theselected media content item from the Story Editor (the Edit Story screensyncs the update).

The user then selects the first (upper-left) snap, which brings up afullscreen preview screen as shown in the first (leftmost) screenshot ofFIG. 5J. The user selects the Snap to see the action menu (second/middlescreenshot) and selects “Edit Snap” in the action menu to see thefullscreen Creative tools menu (shown on the third screenshot). The usermay proceed to make various edits to the image (e.g., cropping, addingtext, modifying brightness/contrast, adding content, removing content,modifying content, etc.). Once the user has completed the edits, theuser saves the edits and selects and option to update the story.

The system may display (425) the media content collection in a varietyof ways, including those described above. For example, the system maydisplay (425) a media content collection on the display screen of acomputing device of a use associated with the media content items in thecollection.

The system may receive (430) various instructions from the user withregards to editing, hiding, and sharing media content collections, asdescribed above. For example, the user may send instructions (via theuser's computing device) to the system to share the media collectionwith one or more other users (e.g., the user's friends). In response tothe instructions, the system may distribute (435) the media contentcollection to the respective computing devices of the identifiedrecipients and cause the collection to display on the display screens ofthe devices.

Software Architecture

FIG. 6 is a block diagram illustrating an exemplary softwarearchitecture 606, which may be used in conjunction with various hardwarearchitectures herein described. FIG. 6 is a non-limiting example of asoftware architecture and it will be appreciated that many otherarchitectures may be implemented to facilitate the functionalitydescribed herein. The software architecture 606 may execute on hardwaresuch as machine 700 of FIG. 7 that includes, among other things,processors 704, memory 714, and I/O components 718. A representativehardware layer 652 is illustrated and can represent, for example, themachine 700 of FIG. 7. The representative hardware layer 652 includes aprocessing unit 654 having associated executable instructions 604.Executable instructions 604 represent the executable instructions of thesoftware architecture 606, including implementation of the methods,components and so forth described herein. The hardware layer 652 alsoincludes memory or storage modules memory/storage 656, which also haveexecutable instructions 604. The hardware layer 652 may also compriseother hardware 658.

As used herein, the term “component” may refer to a device, physicalentity or logic having boundaries defined by function or subroutinecalls, branch points, application program interfaces (APIs), or othertechnologies that provide for the partitioning or modularization ofparticular processing or control functions. Components may be combinedvia their interfaces with other components to carry out a machineprocess. A component may be a packaged functional hardware unit designedfor use with other components and a part of a program that usuallyperforms a particular function of related functions.

Components may constitute either software components (e.g., codeembodied on a machine-readable medium) or hardware components. A“hardware component” is a tangible unit capable of performing certainoperations and may be configured or arranged in a certain physicalmanner. In various exemplary embodiments, one or more computer systems(e.g., a standalone computer system, a client computer system, or aserver computer system) or one or more hardware components of a computersystem (e.g., a processor or a group of processors) may be configured bysoftware (e.g., an application or application portion) as a hardwarecomponent that operates to perform certain operations as describedherein. A hardware component may also be implemented mechanically,electronically, or any suitable combination thereof. For example, ahardware component may include dedicated circuitry or logic that ispermanently configured to perform certain operations.

A hardware component may be a special-purpose processor, such as aField-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) or an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC). A hardware component may also includeprogrammable logic or circuitry that is temporarily configured bysoftware to perform certain operations. For example, a hardwarecomponent may include software executed by a general-purpose processoror other programmable processor. Once configured by such software,hardware components become specific machines (or specific components ofa machine) uniquely tailored to perform the configured functions and areno longer general-purpose processors. It will be appreciated that thedecision to implement a hardware component mechanically, in dedicatedand permanently configured circuitry, or in temporarily configuredcircuitry (e.g., configured by software) may be driven by cost and timeconsiderations.

A processor may be, or in include, any circuit or virtual circuit (aphysical circuit emulated by logic executing on an actual processor)that manipulates data values according to control signals (e.g.,“commands”, “op codes”, “machine code”, etc.) and which producescorresponding output signals that are applied to operate a machine. Aprocessor may, for example, be a Central Processing Unit (CPU), aReduced Instruction Set Computing (RISC) processor, a ComplexInstruction Set Computing (CISC) processor, a Graphics Processing Unit(GPU), a Digital Signal Processor (DSP), an Application SpecificIntegrated Circuit (ASIC), a Radio-Frequency Integrated Circuit (RFIC)or any combination thereof. A processor may further be a multi-coreprocessor having two or more independent processors (sometimes referredto as “cores”) that may execute instructions contemporaneously.

Accordingly, the phrase “hardware component” (or “hardware-implementedcomponent”) should be understood to encompass a tangible entity, be thatan entity that is physically constructed, permanently configured (e.g.,hardwired), or temporarily configured (e.g., programmed) to operate in acertain manner or to perform certain operations described herein.Considering embodiments in which hardware components are temporarilyconfigured (e.g., programmed), each of the hardware components need notbe configured or instantiated at any one instance in time. For example,where a hardware component comprises a general-purpose processorconfigured by software to become a special-purpose processor, thegeneral-purpose processor may be configured as respectively differentspecial-purpose processors (e.g., comprising different hardwarecomponents) at different times. Software accordingly configures aparticular processor or processors, for example, to constitute aparticular hardware component at one instance of time and to constitutea different hardware component at a different instance of time. Hardwarecomponents can provide information to, and receive information from,other hardware components. Accordingly, the described hardwarecomponents may be regarded as being communicatively coupled. Wheremultiple hardware components exist contemporaneously, communications maybe achieved through signal transmission (e.g., over appropriate circuitsand buses) between or among two or more of the hardware components. Inembodiments in which multiple hardware components are configured orinstantiated at different times, communications between such hardwarecomponents may be achieved, for example, through the storage andretrieval of information in memory structures to which the multiplehardware components have access.

For example, one hardware component may perform an operation and storethe output of that operation in a memory device to which it iscommunicatively coupled. A further hardware component may then, at alater time, access the memory device to retrieve and process the storedoutput. Hardware components may also initiate communications with inputor output devices, and can operate on a resource (e.g., a collection ofinformation). The various operations of example methods described hereinmay be performed, at least partially, by one or more processors that aretemporarily configured (e.g., by software) or permanently configured toperform the relevant operations. Whether temporarily or permanentlyconfigured, such processors may constitute processor-implementedcomponents that operate to perform one or more operations or functionsdescribed herein. As used herein, “processor-implemented component”refers to a hardware component implemented using one or more processors.Similarly, the methods described herein may be at least partiallyprocessor-implemented, with a particular processor or processors beingan example of hardware. For example, at least some of the operations ofa method may be performed by one or more processors orprocessor-implemented components.

Moreover, the one or more processors may also operate to supportperformance of the relevant operations in a “cloud computing”environment or as a “software as a service” (SaaS). For example, atleast some of the operations may be performed by a group of computers(as examples of machines including processors), with these operationsbeing accessible via a network (e.g., the Internet) and via one or moreappropriate interfaces (e.g., an Application Program Interface (API)).The performance of certain of the operations may be distributed amongthe processors, not only residing within a single machine, but deployedacross a number of machines. In some exemplary embodiments, theprocessors or processor-implemented components may be located in asingle geographic location (e.g., within a home environment, an officeenvironment, or a server farm). In other exemplary embodiments, theprocessors or processor-implemented components may be distributed acrossa number of geographic locations.

In the exemplary architecture of FIG. 6, the software architecture 606may be conceptualized as a stack of layers where each layer providesparticular functionality. For example, the software architecture 606 mayinclude layers such as an operating system 602, libraries 620,applications 616 and a presentation layer 614. Operationally, theapplications 616 or other components within the layers may invokeapplication programming interface (API) API calls 608 through thesoftware stack and receive messages 612 in response to the API calls608. The layers illustrated are representative in nature and not allsoftware architectures have all layers. For example, some mobile orspecial purpose operating systems may not provide aframeworks/middleware 618, while others may provide such a layer. Othersoftware architectures may include additional or different layers.

The operating system 602 may manage hardware resources and providecommon services. The operating system 602 may include, for example, akernel 622, services 624 and drivers 626. The kernel 622 may act as anabstraction layer between the hardware and the other software layers.For example, the kernel 622 may be responsible for memory management,processor management (e.g., scheduling), component management,networking, security settings, and so on. The services 624 may provideother common services for the other software layers. The drivers 626 areresponsible for controlling or interfacing with the underlying hardware.For instance, the drivers 626 include display drivers, camera drivers,Bluetooth® drivers, flash memory drivers, serial communication drivers(e.g., Universal Serial Bus (USB) drivers), Wi-Fi® drivers, audiodrivers, power management drivers, and so forth depending on thehardware configuration.

The libraries 620 provide a common infrastructure that is used by theapplications 616 or other components or layers. The libraries 620provide functionality that allows other software components to performtasks in an easier fashion than to interface directly with theunderlying operating system 602 functionality (e.g., kernel 622,services 624 or drivers 626). The libraries 620 may include systemlibraries 644 (e.g., C standard library) that may provide functions suchas memory allocation functions, string manipulation functions,mathematical functions, and the like. In addition, the libraries 620 mayinclude API libraries 646 such as media libraries (e.g., libraries tosupport presentation and manipulation of various media format such asMPREG4, H.264, MP3, AAC, AMR, JPG, PNG), graphics libraries (e.g., anOpenGL framework that may be used to render 2D and 3D in a graphiccontent on a display), database libraries (e.g., SQLite that may providevarious relational database functions), web libraries (e.g., WebKit thatmay provide web browsing functionality), and the like. The libraries 620may also include a wide variety of other libraries 648 to provide manyother APIs to the applications 616 and other softwarecomponents/modules.

The frameworks/middleware 618 (also sometimes referred to as middleware)provide a higher-level common infrastructure that may be used by theapplications 616 or other software components/modules. For example, theframeworks/middleware 618 may provide various graphic user interface(GUI) functions, high-level resource management, high-level locationservices, and so forth. The frameworks/middleware 618 may provide abroad spectrum of other APIs that may be utilized by the applications616 or other software components/modules, some of which may be specificto a particular operating system 602 or platform.

The applications 616 include built-in applications 638 or third-partyapplications 640. Examples of representative built-in applications 638may include, but are not limited to, a contacts application, a browserapplication, a book reader application, a location application, a mediaapplication, a messaging application, or a game application. Third-partyapplications 640 may include an application developed using the ANDROID™or IOS™ software development kit (SDK) by an entity other than thevendor of the particular platform, and may be mobile software running ona mobile operating system such as IOS™, ANDROID™, WINDOWS® Phone, orother mobile operating systems. The third-party applications 640 mayinvoke the API calls 608 provided by the mobile operating system (suchas operating system 602) to facilitate functionality described herein.

The applications 616 may use built in operating system functions (e.g.,kernel 622, services 624 or drivers 626), libraries 620, andframeworks/middleware 618 to create user interfaces to interact withusers of the system. Alternatively, or additionally, in some systemsinteractions with a user may occur through a presentation layer, such aspresentation layer 614. In these systems, the application/component“logic” can be separated from the aspects of the application/componentthat interact with a user.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram illustrating components (also referred toherein as “modules”) of a machine 700, according to some exemplaryembodiments, able to read instructions from a machine-readable medium(e.g., a machine-readable storage medium) and perform any one or more ofthe methodologies discussed herein. Specifically, FIG. 7 shows adiagrammatic representation of the machine 700 in the example form of acomputer system, within which instructions 710 (e.g., software, aprogram, an application, an applet, an app, or other executable code)for causing the machine 700 to perform any one or more of themethodologies discussed herein may be executed. As such, theinstructions 710 may be used to implement modules or componentsdescribed herein. The instructions 710 transform the general,non-programmed machine 700 into a particular machine 700 programmed tocarry out the described and illustrated functions in the mannerdescribed. In alternative embodiments, the machine 700 operates as astandalone device or may be coupled (e.g., networked) to other machines.In a networked deployment, the machine 700 may operate in the capacityof a server machine or a client machine in a server-client networkenvironment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed)network environment. The machine 700 may comprise, but not be limitedto, a server computer, a client computer, a personal computer (PC), atablet computer, a laptop computer, a netbook, a set-top box (STB), apersonal digital assistant (PDA), an entertainment media system, acellular telephone, a smart phone, a mobile device, a wearable device(e.g., a smart watch), a smart home device (e.g., a smart appliance),other smart devices, a web appliance, a network router, a networkswitch, a network bridge, or any machine capable of executing theinstructions 710, sequentially or otherwise, that specify actions to betaken by machine 700. Further, while only a single machine 700 isillustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include acollection of machines that individually or jointly execute theinstructions 710 to perform any one or more of the methodologiesdiscussed herein.

The machine 700 may include processors 704, memory memory/storage 706,and I/O components 718, which may be configured to communicate with eachother such as via a bus 702. The memory/storage 706 may include a memory714, such as a main memory, or other memory storage, and a storage unit716, both accessible to the processors 704 such as via the bus 702. Thestorage unit 716 and memory 714 store the instructions 710 embodying anyone or more of the methodologies or functions described herein. Theinstructions 710 may also reside, completely or partially, within thememory 714, within the storage unit 716, within at least one of theprocessors 704 (e.g., within the processor's cache memory), or anysuitable combination thereof, during execution thereof by the machine700. Accordingly, the memory 714, the storage unit 716, and the memoryof processors 704 are examples of machine-readable media.

As used herein, the term “machine-readable medium,” “computer-readablemedium,” or the like may refer to any component, device or othertangible media able to store instructions and data temporarily orpermanently. Examples of such media may include, but is not limited to,random-access memory (RAM), read-only memory (ROM), buffer memory, flashmemory, optical media, magnetic media, cache memory, other types ofstorage (e.g., Erasable Programmable Read-Only Memory (EEPROM)) or anysuitable combination thereof. The term “machine-readable medium” shouldbe taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., acentralized or distributed database, or associated caches and servers)able to store instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” may alsobe taken to include any medium, or combination of multiple media, thatis capable of storing instructions (e.g., code) for execution by amachine, such that the instructions, when executed by one or moreprocessors of the machine, cause the machine to perform any one or moreof the methodologies described herein. Accordingly, a “machine-readablemedium” may refer to a single storage apparatus or device, as well as“cloud-based” storage systems or storage networks that include multiplestorage apparatus or devices. The term “machine-readable medium”excludes signals per se.

The I/O components 718 may include a wide variety of components toprovide a user interface for receiving input, providing output,producing output, transmitting information, exchanging information,capturing measurements, and so on. The specific I/O components 718 thatare included in the user interface of a particular machine 700 willdepend on the type of machine. For example, portable machines such asmobile phones will likely include a touch input device or other suchinput mechanisms, while a headless server machine will likely notinclude such a touch input device. It will be appreciated that the I/Ocomponents 718 may include many other components that are not shown inFIG. 7. The I/O components 718 are grouped according to functionalitymerely for simplifying the following discussion and the grouping is inno way limiting. In various exemplary embodiments, the I/O components718 may include output components 726 and input components 728. Theoutput components 726 may include visual components (e.g., a displaysuch as a plasma display panel (PDP), a light emitting diode (LED)display, a liquid crystal display (LCD), a projector, or a cathode raytube (CRT)), acoustic components (e.g., speakers), haptic components(e.g., a vibratory motor, resistance mechanisms), other signalgenerators, and so forth. The input components 728 may includealphanumeric input components (e.g., a keyboard, a touch screenconfigured to receive alphanumeric input, a photo-optical keyboard, orother alphanumeric input components), point based input components(e.g., a mouse, a touchpad, a trackball, a joystick, a motion sensor, orother pointing instrument), tactile input components (e.g., a physicalbutton, a touch screen that provides location or force of touches ortouch gestures, or other tactile input components), audio inputcomponents (e.g., a microphone), and the like. The input components 728may also include one or more image-capturing devices, such as a digitalcamera for generating digital images or video.

In further exemplary embodiments, the I/O components 718 may includebiometric components 730, motion components 734, environmentalenvironment components 736, or position components 738, as well as awide array of other components. One or more of such components (orportions thereof) may collectively be referred to herein as a “sensorcomponent” or “sensor” for collecting various data related to themachine 700, the environment of the machine 700, a user of the machine700, or a combinations thereof.

For example, the biometric components 730 may include components todetect expressions (e.g., hand expressions, facial expressions, vocalexpressions, body gestures, or eye tracking), measure biosignals (e.g.,blood pressure, heart rate, body temperature, perspiration, or brainwaves), identify a person (e.g., voice identification, retinalidentification, facial identification, fingerprint identification, orelectroencephalogram based identification), and the like. The motioncomponents 734 may include acceleration sensor components (e.g.,accelerometer), gravitation sensor components, velocity sensorcomponents (e.g., speedometer), rotation sensor components (e.g.,gyroscope), and so forth. The environment components 736 may include,for example, illumination sensor components (e.g., photometer),temperature sensor components (e.g., one or more thermometer that detectambient temperature), humidity sensor components, pressure sensorcomponents (e.g., barometer), acoustic sensor components (e.g., one ormore microphones that detect background noise), proximity sensorcomponents (e.g., infrared sensors that detect nearby objects), gassensors (e.g., gas detection sensors to detection concentrations ofhazardous gases for safety or to measure pollutants in the atmosphere),or other components that may provide indications, measurements, orsignals corresponding to a surrounding physical environment. Theposition components 738 may include location sensor components (e.g., aGlobal Position system (GPS) receiver component), altitude sensorcomponents (e.g., altimeters or barometers that detect air pressure fromwhich altitude may be derived), orientation sensor components (e.g.,magnetometers), and the like. For example, the location sensor componentmay provide location information associated with the system 700, such asthe system's 700 GPS coordinates or information regarding a location thesystem 700 is at currently (e.g., the name of a restaurant or otherbusiness).

Communication may be implemented using a wide variety of technologies.The I/O components 718 may include communication components 740 operableto couple the machine 700 to a network 732 or devices 720 via coupling722 and coupling 724 respectively. For example, the communicationcomponents 740 may include a network interface component or othersuitable device to interface with the network 732. In further examples,communication components 740 may include wired communication components,wireless communication components, cellular communication components,Near Field Communication (NFC) components, Bluetooth® components (e.g.,Bluetooth® Low Energy), Wi-Fi® components, and other communicationcomponents to provide communication via other modalities. The devices720 may be another machine or any of a wide variety of peripheraldevices (e.g., a peripheral device coupled via a Universal Serial Bus(USB)).

Moreover, the communication components 740 may detect identifiers orinclude components operable to detect identifiers. For example, thecommunication components 740 may include Radio Frequency Identification(RFID) tag reader components, NFC smart tag detection components,optical reader components (e.g., an optical sensor to detectone-dimensional bar codes such as Universal Product Code (UPC) bar code,multi-dimensional bar codes such as Quick Response (QR) code, Azteccode, Data Matrix, Dataglyph, MaxiCode, PDF417, Ultra Code, UCC RSS-2Dbar code, and other optical codes), or acoustic detection components(e.g., microphones to identify tagged audio signals). In addition, avariety of information may be derived via the communication components740, such as, location via Internet Protocol (IP) geo-location, locationvia Wi-Fi® signal triangulation, location via detecting a NFC beaconsignal that may indicate a particular location, and so forth.

Where a phrase similar to “at least one of A, B, or C,” “at least one ofA, B, and C,” “one or more A, B, or C,” or “one or more of A, B, and C”is used, it is intended that the phrase be interpreted to mean that Aalone may be present in an embodiment, B alone may be present in anembodiment, C alone may be present in an embodiment, or that anycombination of the elements A, B and C may be present in a singleembodiment; for example, A and B, A and C, B and C, or A and B and C.

As used herein, the term “or” may be construed in either an inclusive orexclusive sense. Moreover, plural instances may be provided forresources, operations, or structures described herein as a singleinstance. Additionally, boundaries between various resources,operations, modules, engines, and data stores are somewhat arbitrary,and particular operations are illustrated in a context of specificillustrative configurations. Other allocations of functionality areenvisioned and may fall within a scope of various embodiments of thepresent disclosure. In general, structures and functionality presentedas separate resources in the example configurations may be implementedas a combined structure or resource. Similarly, structures andfunctionality presented as a single resource may be implemented asseparate resources.

These and other variations, modifications, additions, and improvementsfall within a scope of embodiments of the present disclosure asrepresented by the appended claims. The specification and drawings are,accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictivesense.

What is claimed is:
 1. A system comprising: a processor; and memorycoupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed bythe processor, cause the system to perform operations comprising:selecting a narrative group criterion stored in a database incommunication with the system; selecting a media content item associatedwith the narrative group criterion and associated with a user;generating a media content collection comprising the selected mediacontent item; and displaying, on a display screen of a computing deviceof the user, the media content collection.